Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Join Connie Battaile, the author of The Oregon Book: Information A to Z, as she recounts some of the curious events in Oregon’s history on Thursday, September 18, 7pm, at the Beaverton City Library. It may help to explain our conviction that Oregon is a unique place.

From the state motto of Alis Volat Propiis (She flies with Her Own Wings) to the Keep Portland Weird bumper stickers, Oregonians have long demonstrated an appreciation for independent thinking and a high degree of tolerance for the unusual. A shared belief that it’s different here is certainly part of how we define our state’s zeitgeist.

Retired reference librarian and author Connie Battaile wonders if revisiting curious events in Oregon history can help illuminate our conviction that Oregon is a unique place. Beyond their historical value, Battaile’s research suggests that even seemingly unrelated events can tap into larger themes of a state’s identity.

author and retired librarian, Connie Battaile

In this engaging program she recounts some of the natural disasters, such as the Heppner flood of 1903 and the Vanport Flood of 1948, and human foibles, such as the Stumbo Strip and the infamous exploding whale story. Slides of maps and historical photos will illustrate her presentation.

Beaverton City Library is pleased to host an Oregon Chautauqua program from the Oregon Council for the Humanities. This free, public program will take place on Thursday, September 18 at 7pm at Beaverton City Library’s Meeting Rooms A & B, 12375 SW 5th Street.

Oregon Chautauqua brings scholars and speakers to more than eighty Oregon communities each year. Chautauquas take place in libraries, community centers, museums--wherever people come together to talk, learn, debate, and share their understanding of the world.

This Chautauqua program, which is made possible by funding from the Oregon Council for the Humanities, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Oregon Cultural Trust. This is the first of a series of three special Thursday Evening Oregon programs exploring some of the many aspects of our state’s culture.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Summer Reading is a Washington County Cooperative Library Services program that coaxes children and young adults to read while school is out, encouraging them to be lifelong readers.

2008 WCCLS Summer Readers who met their reading goals got their day in the sun... literally, at Oaks Park. The official celebration took place on Wednesday, August 13th.

Thanks to everyone who made the Oaks Park event a wonderful day: Oaks Park and their staff, library staff, and volunteers. More than 1,100 WCCLS coupons were turned in by 3pm.

Summer reading finishers received a coupon good for one deluxe ride bracelet with a $3.75 co-pay. The regular price is $14.25, and it's valid on all midway rides (though height restrictions still apply). The bracelet can be used from noon to dusk on the day of redemption (though readers must present coupon!)

This year, more than 18 thousand kids and almost 4 thousand teens signed up for Summer Reading, 3,000 more than last summer.

Research has shown that children who continue reading during the summer do better in school. Our Summer Reading programs are structured to encourage toddlers, children and teens to read throughout the summer. The programs foster a love of books and reading and are a lot of fun.

We all want our kids to grow into healthy, caring, responsible adults. Summer Reading programs provide benefits like constructive use of time, building and strengthening relationships with both peers and adults in their community, and developing a positive identity and value system. And those benefits aren’t even the best part! Kids have a chance to engage with pleasure reading and all types of literacy in a fun, self-motivated environment outside of the classroom. There’s no better way to become a lifelong learner than to discover that the library has something for your personal interests, not just class assignments!

Thursday, August 7, 2008

It's never too early to read to your kids! Research shows that reading to young children is the single most important factor in helping them get ready to become readers. When you read to your children, they are developing the early literacy skills that are the foundation for them to become readers later on.

Early literacy is what children know about reading and writing before they can actually read or write. Talk + Sing + Read = early literacy.

In tandem with the American Library Association, the libraries of Washington County and Washington County Cooperative Library Services (WCCLS) are offering information about helping your child get ready to learn to read. Ask your library's staff about the Every Child Ready to Read (or Cada Niño Listo para Leer) brochures. Each brochure talks about the six pre-reading skills that kids must know in order to learn to read. And each brochure comes with a reading list identifying books (available at the library!) that support particular skills for that age group.

More information and more book lists are available on our website at Ready to Read! Some libraries offer early literacy classes for parents, where you can discover more ideas to help your child get ready to read. Ask about early literacy at your library!

How do babies, toddlers, and preschoolers get ready to become readers? By reading, talking, and singing with their parents! Have fun together!